Augmented Reality And Apple’s ARKit – How It Will Transform Logistics Industry?

by Yuvrajsinh Vaghela

On 5th June 2017, Apple introduced its augmented reality (AR) kit, a new and the most powerful framework that allows developers to easily build rich augmented reality experiences for iOS devices, including iPhone and iPad.

Apple has claimed that the ARKit will take applications beyond the screen, freeing them to interact with the real world in totally new ways by combining digital objects and information with the environment across you.

Both Augmented Reality and Apple’s ARKit are impacting various industries like healthcare, retail, entertainment & gaming, education, real estate, automotive and logistics. Today, it is also solving various problems of logistics industry and leading different businesses towards success.

But…

What kind of problems logistics businesses face? How Augmented Reality and ARKit solving these problems? Let’s check out these problems and its solutions.

Current Problems and Its Solutions with Augmented Reality and Apple’s ARKit

1.Problem in Warehousing Operations

In the logistics business, warehouse operations transform beyond just storage facilities and distribution locations. It is a lot problematic for businesses to change the layouts so that they can accommodate variable sections of businesses like gathering product, labelling them, etc. These are such changes that are not as easy as it sounds because you need to plan new arrangements at complete scale.

Solution: Today, augmented reality apps have shown many ways for warehousing operations. Such operations are estimated approximately about 20% of all logistics costs and the work of picking costs for 55% to 65% of the total cost of warehousing operations. With AR, it is possible to reduce cost by improving the picking process.

This technology can help with the training of warehouse members and with warehouse planning also. Moreover, planners can also test whether the measurements of a planned changes will fit into the decided place or not and model new workflows. In the near future, it will enable a real warehouse to be utilized as the test bed for warehouse operation planning.

2.Hassle of Picking Orders

Earlier, it was tricky for pickers to take a complete list of items that they were supposed to pick for an order using paper-based task list or an RF unit display. It was not easy to manage the paper-based list of the items as there were high chances of errors because they had to verify each product that had been picked up by them. The entire process of picking orders was taking more time and efforts, charging businesses high amount of cost of implementing physical hardware in every warehouse location.

Solution: With AR application, the employees or pickers can keep themselves free to pick items as the entire list of the products will displayed within the visual field. Moreover, when each item will be picked, the technology will verify the correct product using optical readers to scan bar codes. It will also guide picker to the next most logical item that needs to be picked.

AR has enabled employees to move faster, efficiently and without any hassle. In addition to this, it has the potential of replacing a highly effectual Pick-to-Light system, allowing the employee to get an overlay picture of every single highlighted location and quantity.

3.Problem in Overseas Shipments

Whenever companies have to transport good or products overseas, the problem or complexity doubles. As company needs to manage everything smoothly while shipping goods overseas.

It is not easy for them to check whether the shipment items have completed trade documents or not. Moreover, workers also need to understand that whether a particular shipment has adhered to import/export regulations. With these problems, shipping overseas should a lot difficulty.

Solution: Now, Augmented Reality applications or ARKit-based solutions can change the entire game as apps can be engineered so that they can help workers to recognize whether any particular shipment has followed import/export regulations or not.

Moreover, AR apps can also check that shipment has finalized its trade documents and by scanning them instantly, some changes can be done at the time. Once the shipment has crossed borders, trade documents can be easily translated in real-time. For example, using WordLens application will be a great choice for businesses.

4.Last-minute Delivery

For many eCommerce retailers, last-minute delivery is considered as the most expensive step that they need to take. With increasing customer bases, shipping products to customers cost-effectively become a main thing for retailers.

It is estimated that the last-minute delivery costdrivers to spend 40 to 60% of their time while locating the correct boxes within their truck for the next delivery. For various drivers, this entire process relies on their memory like how the entire truck was loaded with the items.

Solution: An augmented Reality or ARKit application can streamline the time that will be taken by drivers to identify packages upon delivery and decrease the time it takes now to know what package goes where.

In addition to this, last-minute delivery logistics need to do a lot with actual navigation. If the driver is delivering to any location for the first time or he needs to navigate the interior of a building, AR application can be used to overlay the environment and show directions. In case, if there are not any directions obtainable, the driver can add markers to update an independent database.

The core of the article is…

Though Augmented Reality is relatively at its initial phases of adoption in the logistics industry, it offers a number of benefits. For instance, AR gives logistics service providers instant access to anticipatory information anytime and anywhere.

It is important for the prospective and accurate planning and process of tasks like load optimization and delivery. It plays a vital role in delivering a high level of customer service. Considering its benefits and solutions, various logistics companies are opting for augmented reality apps development so that they can have their own application that helps them in functioning their task.